It
is frustrating when lettuce turns brown and carrots and celery go limp. The plans for a nice salad or vegetable tray
with dinner have been foiled and the veggies thrown into the garbage…money down
the drain! Though produce doesn’t last
as long as other foods, there is a way to keep it fresher longer.
The
ideal temperature setting for the refrigerator is 34-40 F (1-4 C).
Disease-carrying bacteria thrive above 40 and below 40 will cause vegetables to
freeze.
The
“crisper drawers” do just what their name implies; they are designed to store
fruits and vegetables and some refrigerator models come with humidity controls.
If you have more than one crisper drawer
you can store vegetables together according to humidity requirements. An open setting lets out moist air - which is
good for vegetables like onions, garlic, and winter squash. A closed setting keeps moist air in, which is
good for leafy greens, cucumbers, root vegetables, celery, and peppers.
Crisper
drawers are most effective when they’re at least two-thirds full.
Don’t
wash your vegetables before refrigerating - wash before eating.
Remove
tops from beets, carrots, parsnips, and radishes before storing.
Keep
ethylene-emitting foods wrapped. Foods
that emit ethylene include apples, avocados, bananas, pears, peaches, plums,
cantaloupes, honey dew melons, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Those that absorb
ethylene include leafy greens, beans, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, peas,
peppers, and potatoes.
Fruits
and vegetables can produce odors which are absorbed by other fruits and
vegetables. Vegetables that lose
moisture quickly should be wrapped or stored in plastic bags or
containers.
The
service manual is a very important reference tool and should be kept
handy. It will contain a guide for
properly storing food to keep it fresh longer and other tips for keeping the
refrigerator and freezer operating efficiently.
The troubleshooting section can be helpful in avoiding a service call by
offering a simple solution. The care and
maintenance section will offer tips on extending longevity.
Read
Freezer Repair and Maintenance Tips to learn more.
Appliance Parts Today has been
in business since March of 2003 providing area residents and local service
technicians a complete line of replacement
parts for appliances and air conditioners.
The local
appliance parts store is the DIY’s number one resource for home appliance
repair and maintenance tips. The
friendly staff will help customers find the appliance parts and air
conditioning parts they need. They will
also answer questions and offer technical advice to ensure a successful DIY appliance repair job.